Elevated-track cycle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1A W. H. MARTIN. ELEVATED TRACK CYCLE.

No.v 559,298. PatentredApr. 28, 18196.

AN DRM B GRAHAM. PHOTO'UITIQWASHINWMD (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W.H. MARTIN.

\ ELEVATED TRACK CYCLE.

No. 559,298. Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

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ANDREW BLRAHAM. PNUTU-THQWASMNGWN. D.C

l Nrrnn STATES ATENT Grrrcn.

VILLIAM H. MARTIN, OF .MOBILE ALABAMA.

ELEvATED-TRACKCYCLE.

SPECIFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,298, dated April28, 1896.

Application filed August 3, 1395. Serial No. 558,149. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Elevated-Track Cycles, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to elevated-track cycles, and has for its objectto provide an improved cycle adapted to be propelled upon an elevatedtrack for the purpose of furnishing amusement and recreation to theriders; and to this end it consists in the novel features and in theconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and pointedout in the claims following` the description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciflcation,whereinFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved cycle. Fig. 2 is an end viewof the same and its elevated track, and Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalview of the track and its hanger and illustrating the safety rail-guard.

Y Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates one of a series ofposts or uprights carrying at its upper end a cross-beam 2, to each endof which is attached a hanger 3, which at its lower end is turned up, asat 4:, and is bolted or riveted to a track-rail 5. To the lower portionof the hanger 3 is bolted one end of a brace-rod 6, the other end ofwhich is securely fastened to the cross-beam 2, said brace-rodsoperating to brace the hangers 3 against lateral movement. The posts 1are arranged at suitable intervals apart, and the track-rails arepreferably endless, whereby the cycle may be continuously propelledthereover in one direction.

My improved cycle is constructed as follows The numerals 7 and Sindicate,respectively, the front and rear wheels of the cycle connectedtogether bya yoke or frame 9 and having grooved peripheries or rims 10adapted to engage and travel on the rail 5. Depending from the axles ofthe wheels 7 vand S is a rnetallic U-shaped frame 11, preferablyconstructed as follows:

The numeral 12 indicates two metallic straps bent or arched at theirupper ends to embrace both sides of the Wheels, as more clearly shown inFig. 2, and journaled upon the wheel-axles. rlhe lower ends of saidstraps are provided with tubular sockets 13,

in which are fitted the opposite ends of a bent tube 14, which serves asa frame for carrying the seat and driving mechanism, as will hereinafterbe described. Each of the sockets is formed with a hollow boss or nipple15, in which are fitted the opposite ends of a tube 1G, which acts tobrace together and strengthen the frame, and in the upper end of each ofsaid sockets 13 is arranged the shank of a safety rail-guard 17, whichis bifurcated at its upper end to embrace or straddle the lower edge ofthe rail 5 and prevent the cycle from being derailed. The rail-guard 17is adjustable vertically in the socket 13, and is held in its adjustedposition by a set-screw 1S, which is tapped through the socket andengages the shank of the rail-guard. (See Fig. 2.) Each of the sockets13 is also provided with two hollow bosses or nipples 19, in which arefitted the upper ends of two bowed tubes 20, that at their lower endsare iitted in like manner in a tubular sleeve 21, secured on the tube 14in a well-known manner. On the bowed tubes 2O are arranged cushions 22,formed in any suitable manner and designed to absorb the impact in caseof a collision.

Carried by the axle of the front wheel 7 is a sprocket-wheel 23, and asimilar, butpreferably somewhat larger, sprocket-wheel 24 is journaledin a bracket 25, sleeved upon the tube 14, and is geared to thesprocket-wheel 23 by a drive-chain 2G. Rigidly iixed upon the same axlewith the sprocket-wheel 24 is a smaller sprocket-wheel 27, that isgeared by a drive-chain 28 to a somewhat larger sprocketwheel 29,journaled in a bracket 30, sleeved upon the tube 14. On the axle of thesprocketwheel 29 are fixed pedal-cranks 31, constructed in an ordinarymanner and operated as usual for driving the wheel 29 and, through themedium of the gearing described, the wheel 7 of the cycle.

Supported upon the rear portion of the frame 11 is the operators seat32, which at its back carries sleeves 33, which are loosely fitted onthe tube 14, so that they may be freely moved 'up and down thereon, andto the bottom of said seat is secured a socket 34, that is fittedover astandard 35, sleeved upon the tube. 14. The seat may be raised andlowered to accommodate the operator and is held in its adjusted positionby -means of a set-screw 36, carried by the sleeves 33 and socket 34.

Arranged upon the frame 9 of the cycle and intermediate the wheels is abracket 37, having oppositely-inclined arms 38, on which are arranged toslide yokes 39, each carrying a friction-roller 40, that is adapted totravel on the upper inclined edges of the arms 33. Pivotally connectedto the yokes 39 are brakeshoes 41, adapted to engage the wheels 7 and 8,and from the opposite ends of said yoke project upwardly-extending arms42, that at their upper ends are pivotally connected to one end of a rod43. The rod 43 passes down through an aperture in the center of thebracket 37, and is normally held in a raised position by a coiled spring44, seated on the bracket and bearing against the under side of a collar45, secured on said rod. A collar 46 is also secured on said rod beneaththe bracket 37, and acts to limit the upward move- 1 ment ot the rod.rlo the lower end of the rod 43 is attached one end of a cord or chain47 that at its lower end is provided with a handle 48 that hangs withinconvenient reach of the operator.

Vhen it is desired to apply the brake, the operator pulls upon the cordor chain 47, thus depressing the rod 43 against the tension of thespring and causing the yokes 39 to ride down the inclined arms 38, whichspreads or thrusts the brake-shoes outwardly against the rims of thewheels 7 and 8 and retards and finally stops the movement ofi` thelatter.

Vith a view to permitting the cycle traveling around short curves Ijournal the axle of the forward wheel 7 in elongated bearings in theframe 9, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby said wheel ispermitted to have a slight play in its bearings in order that it maycorrespond in its movements to the curvature of the rail.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved cycle willbe readily understood.

I have illustrated in the drawings but a single seat; but it will bemanifest that additional seats may be provided for the accommodation ofpassengers, and it will also. be apparent that other than manual powermay be employed for propelling the cycle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In anelevated-track cycle, the combination with the frame 9, and the wheels 7and S journaled therein, of the arched metallic straps 12 journaled onthe wheel-axles and provided at their lower ends with tubular sockets13, a AU -shapcd frame 14 fitted in said sockets and carrying a seat andpropelling mechanism, brake mechanism carried by the frame 9 and adaptedto brake the wheels 7 and 8, and a brake-handle extending into withinconvenient reach of the seat, substantially as described.

2. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the frame 9, and thewheels 7 and 3 journaled therein, of the arched metallic straps 12journaled on the wheel-axles and providedat their lower ends with thetubular sockets 13, a brace 16 connecting said sockets, and a U-shapedframe 14 fitted in said sockets and carrying a seat and propellingmechanism, substantially as described.

3. In an elevated-track cycle, the combina tion with the frame 9, andthe wheels 7 and 8 journaled therein, of the arched metallic straps 12journaled on the wheel-axles and provided at their lower ends withtubular sockets 13, vertically-adjustable rail-guards 17 fitted in saidsockets and straddling the lower edge of the track-rail, and a U-shapedframe 14 fitted in said sockets and carrying a seat and propellingmechanism, substantially as described.

4. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the frame 9, and thewheels 7 and 8 journaled therein, of the arched metallic straps 12journaled on the wheel-axles and provided at their lower ends withtubular sockets 13, a U -shaped frame 14 fitted in said sockets andcarrying a seat and propelling mechanism, and bowed frames 2O arrangedupon the forward and rear vertical portions of said U shaped frame andcarrying cushions 22, substantially as described.

5. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the frame 9, thewheels 7 and S journaled therein, and a depending frame carrying a seatand propelling mechanism, of a brake consisting of a bracket carried bythe frame 9 and arranged intermediate the wheels, said bracket havingreversely-inclined arms 38, yokes 39 adapted to be moved up and down onsaid arms and carrying pivoted brakeshoes adapted to engage said wheels,upwardly-extending arms carried by said yokes, and an operating-rodpivotally connected with said arms, and a spring for normally holdingsaid rod raised, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM H. MARTIN.

Titnessesz WM. L. BAKER, Jr., A. H. GAILLARD.

